Planning and preparing in advance with a vision or purpose is difficult. It is so much easier to just act and take care of the immediate requirements without thinking or planning too much.

And, to be frank, this is as good a recipe for disaster in anything but the very short-term that can be adopted.

Yet if there is the aspiration to improve and grow with operational performance, it is imperative to adopt the benefits of strategic thinking.

By simply asking what is required as outcomes from actions, and what might realistically will follow from them in terms of unforeseen consequences and then the potential outcomes of that, a tighter fit may well be accomplished, bringing the thinking closer to reality.

This will allow thinking and planning with an eye to the outcome and encourage approaching every interaction with a view to the desired result.

It gives a long term focus and not only enables dealing with short term disappointments, but also helps to identify and make best use of leverage opportunities turning situations to maximum advantage, whilst expending the minimum effort.